Landmark emergency room disrupted by pepper spray

WOONSOCKET — The emergency room at Landmark Medical Center was closed Friday afternoon after pepper spray used by police during an incident in the hospital entered the building’s ventilation system.
“This afternoon, an incident occurred in our emergency room that required the response of the Woonsocket Police Department,” hospital officials said in a statement issued early Friday evening. “During their response, pepper spray was utilized in our emergency room area to subdue an individual. Unfortunately, the pepper spray was pulled into the emergency room’s ventilation system.”
The hospital said the emergency room was then closed and the area was then ventilated.
“We are grateful only one of our patients was minimally impacted by today’s incident. No other area of the hospital was affected by this incident.”
The emergency room was reopened and fully functional by 7:15 p.m., said Bill Fischer, a spokesman for the hospital. Ambulances were diverted to other hospitals while the emergency room was closed, hospital officials said. Police did not have further information available Friday night.